eria's sons with the Numidian bands,
And line the shore.--Perdiccas, be it thine
To march thy cohorts to the mountain's foot,
Where the wood skirts the valley; there make halt
Till brave Amyntor stretch along the vale.
Ourself with the embodied cavalry
Clad in their mail'd cuirass, will circle round
To where their camp extends its furthest line;
Unnumber'd torches there shall blaze at once,
The signal of the charge; then, oh, my friends!
On every side let the wild uproar loose,
Bid massacre and carnage stalk around,
Unsparing, unrelenting; drench your swords
In hostile blood, and riot in destruction.
Away, my friends!
Rouse all the war! fly to your sev'ral posts,
And instant bring all Syracuse in arms!

[_Exeunt.--Warlike music._

Scene III.

_The Inside of the Temple._

_A Monument in the Middle._

_EUPHRASIA, ERIXENE, and FEMALE ATTENDANTS._

_Eup._ Which way, Erixene, which way, my virgins,
Shall we direct our steps? What sacred altar
Clasp on our knees?

_Erix._ Alas, the horrid tumult
Spreads the destruction wide. On ev'ry side
The victor's shouts, the groans of murder'd wretches,
In wild confusion rise. Once more descend
Eudocia's tomb; there thou may'st find a shelter.

_Eup._ Anon, Erixene, I mean to visit,
Perhaps for the last time, a mother's urn.
This dagger there, this instrument of death,
Should fortune prosper the fell tyrant's arms,
This dagger then may free me from his pow'r,
And that drear vault intomb us all in peace.

[_Puts up the Dagger._

The din
Of arms with clearer sound advances. Hark!
That sudden burst!--Again!--They rush upon us!
The portal opens; lo!--see there!--behold,
War, horrid war, invades the sacred fane!
No altar gives a sanctuary now. [_Warlike Music._

_Enter DIONYSIUS and CALIPPUS, with several SOLDIERS._

_Dio._ Here will I mock their siege; here stand at bay,
And brave them to the last.

_Cal._ Our weary foes
Desist from the pursuit.

_Dio._ Tho' all betray me,
Tho' ev'ry god conspire, I will not yield.
If I must fall, the temple's pond'rous roof,
The mansion of the gods combin'd against me,
Shall first be crush'd, and lie in ruin with me.
Euphrasia here! Detested, treach'rous woman!
For my revenge preserv'd!--By Heaven, 'tis well;
Vengeance awaits thy guilt, and this good sword
Thus sends thee to atone the bleeding victims
This night has massacred.

_Cal._ [_Holding DIONYSIUS'S Arm._] My liege, forbear;
Her life preserv'd may plead you